How to Sell Your Cartier Watch with Sotheby's

Cartier Consignment

When you are ready to sell your vintage or modern Cartier watch, Sotheby’s can help you realise the highest price. Sotheby’s, your most reliable resource for Cartier watch auction appraisal and consignment, continues to outpace market competitors, often achieving hammer prices well above our low estimates. Rare and limited-edition Cartier models, such as the Pasha de Cartier Dragon Decor, garner particularly high prices, while popular models, including Tank, Crash, Santos, Tortue and Rotonde, find eager buyers when sold at Sotheby's.

The Watches market is stronger than ever, with international collectors driving prices to unmatched heights. Lately, Sotheby’s New York Watches sales have grown to $86.4 million, an increase of 32% in five years. Live auctions happen in London, New York, Geneva and Hong Kong, and online auctions and private sales also have broad appeal.

100 Years of Cartier Tank Watches

Launch Slideshow

100 Years of Cartier Tank Watches

This Tank Americaine is the perfect day-to-night watch – smart and discreet enough for daywear, but with just the right smattering of pavé diamonds across the distinctive rectangular bezel, and a mother-of-pearl dial, to nudge it into cocktail watch territory.

This is the Tank in one of its purest forms. With its monochrome palette - a platinum case, white open dial and black numerals - the only pop of colour is the distinctive blue hands, achieved by heating the steel to an exact temperature. A handsome addition to any watch collection.

Here the case shape is slightly less elongated, with the Roman numerals positioned towards the outside of the dial. With a white gold case and the signature blue sapphire winding crown this timepiece is understated and elegant.

This Tank Americaine from circa 2000 in yellow gold is chunky and bold with styling that could easily date from 20 years earlier. All the classic Tank DNA markers remain with added functionality – a date window at 3 o’clock and a seconds hand at 6 o’clock.

This is Tank in its sportiest guise – as a chronograph – with functionality to record the timings of a race. The 3 sub dials have required a clever re-arrangement of the Roman numerals across the face – the top one indicates the date, the bottom two are the chronograph function, operated by the buttons above and below the crown.

Originally launched in 1933 the Tank Basculante is a clever demonstration in miniaturised engineering. The inner case is able to flip completely over inside a swinging frame, thereby protecting the watch front from any knocks or bashes. And it’s because of this system (as opposed to flipping left to right like the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso) that allows it to stand upright (even when the strap is flat) – a perfect mini desk clock.

Another Basculante – this time in less precious stainless steel and dating from around 2000. In the interests of symmetry – and similarly to lot 241 - the winding crown has been moved off the side of the case to the 12 o’clock position.

Out of favour for decades, yellow gold watches are experiencing a return to popularity – see Cartier’s 2017 watch launch, the Panthère, which is dominated by this warm hue. This piece is the perfect demonstration of Cartier’s goldsmithing skills with an engineered gold link strap.

Get Started with an Estimate

Get Started with an Estimate

Register or log in to your Sothebys.com account to request an estimate of your watch. Complimentary estimates are provided for each Cartier watch that meets our minimum consignment value ($5,000 in New York, £3,000 in London and HK$40,000 in Hong Kong).

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to sell my Cartier watch or clock?

Sotheby's sells Cartier watches online and in live auctions throughout the year and in multiple selling locations, including Hong Kong, London, Geneva and New York. Based on our specialists' understanding of the market and the current appetite of watch buyers, we are able to recommend the location and sale that will be best for the sale of your timepiece. Once you submit your Cartier watch details for an auction estimate appraisal, Sotheby's watch specialists will be able to provide their recommendations.

Why are Cartier Tank watches so iconic?

The Cartier Tank watch, created in 1917 by Louis Cartier, is celebrating its centennial. Inspired by the rigid geometry of the Renault tanks used in the First World War, Cartier designed the simple, rectangular face of the iconic watch. This style was inspired by the shape of the tank when viewed from above: a square flanked by two shafts representing the body and tracks. The dial features angular, graphic Roman numerals that add to its minimalist allure. The Tank comes in several models, such as the ref 2312 case cc371543 Tank Americaine which is the sportiest chronograph version.

How can I find the model number for my Cartier watch?

Cartier watches have two different model numbers, one on the back of the case and one on the paperwork. The model number on the original paperwork begins with a "W" and provides the exact match of the watch, while the four-digit number, which is typically on the back of the case, refers to the case model. The other number, an 8-digit numeral stamped to the case, is the serial number.

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